 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-05-18 16:09
What is your definition of a 'normal' clarinet?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2026-05-19 03:17
A clarinet that's perpendicular to the arcs of an orchestra.
Andres Cabrera
West Coast Wind Symphony
https://WestCoastWindSymphony.com
sbwe@sbmusic.org
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tom H
Date: 2026-05-19 06:10
Buffet R13.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book -- Songburd Music (paper and digital)
Search title. Amazon.com (search Tom Heimer).
Boreal Ballad solo -- Songburd Music item -- search title.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2026-05-19 09:14
I believe that due to its compromised construction along with its sensitivity to humidity and altitude variations, a "Normal" clarinet is pretty much inherently "out of tune". Hence the need to: 1) make adjustments to its total length at various points; 2) use alternate fingerings; 3) use proper reed strength; 4) adjust the embouchure when necessary; and 5) adjust oral cavity when necessary in order to play "in tune".
Needless to say, before playing, a proper, competent, professional overhaul where correct heights of the very best pads available will (hopefully) minimize player required adjustments.
Playing "in tune" with an even timbre can at times, be quite a challenge.
I believe it's simply the nature of the beast.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Klarnt
Date: 2026-05-22 04:15
Depends on context. Many things include where you're performing, how old the horn is, the level of quality, and even genre.
For example, some key systems are more prevalent or "normal" in France (boehm), Germany (oehler), and New Orleans (albert). Back in the day Bass Clarinet used to only extend to low E -sometimes Eb, but nowadays many extend to low C. Professional sopranos may have a left hand Ab/Eb key, while student models often lack it. Turkish music might be more inclined to use a metal Clarinet, while marching bands generally use plastic horns due to its weight and durability, and classical players love wood because... reasons I won't go into.
Any definition that isn't "Bb Soprano = Normal Clarinet" is fine with me.
Post Edited (2026-05-22 04:21)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-05-22 07:47
Normal = standardized
What is the most standardized clarinet? Bb french boehm system, 17 keys, 6 rings, regardless of materials used (ABS plastic, hard rubber, genadilla, cocobolo, mopane, boxwood, etc).
When I go to a music store in the U.S.A., I expect them to stock basic equipment that supports the normal/standardized instrument that is most common.
Anything else is a deviation from the standard:
- Different pitch (A, C, Eb, D, G, Ab piccolo clarinet),
- Different octaves (Alto, Tenor, Basset clarinet, Basset horn, Bass, Contra, Octa-Contra)
- Additional keywork to the 17 key 6 ring variety (Eb/Ab lever, low F correction key, full boehm keywork with articulated G#, extended range to low Eb, etc.)
- Different key systems (Albert, Oehler/German, etc.)
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist Homage and MT36 mouthpieces
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 & #5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2026-05-22 18:19
David H. Kinder,
I like your definition, however...
When you wrote: "Normal = standardized. What is the most standardized clarinet? Bb french boehm system, 17 keys, 6 rings, regardless of materials used (ABS plastic, hard rubber, genadilla, cocobolo, mopane, boxwood, etc).", what came to my mind this mornings was...I think I can find a CSO at Amazon that would fit your definition and it probably would only cost around $139.00.
Should quality be a part of your definition or not?
I don't know how to reconcile this...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-05-22 22:50
Hi Dan,
What comes to me is to get the right tool for the right job for the player.
And it's not about how much one spends either.
I follow a few clarinet players on Facebook / Instagram. One is kmyaclarinet. I've seen her play some of these CSO from Amazon and Temu. Her main clarinets are Buffet Prestige Bb & A, but she still gets other CSOs on occasion.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1557985475926870
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYQC380SVPd/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWwTgF7kWhu/
She uses her own mouthpiece setup on them. She makes them sound very good!
The clarinet itself needs to be well-regulated: springs, pad seals, keys move the way they should, etc. But even buying a used Vito off Facebook marketplace should be checked by a tech.
But imagine a brand new student clarinet from *any* manufacturer and the first thing that most of us would do is replace the mouthpiece. We instinctively know that the stock mouthpieces included the majority of the time... stink. They are for developing skills only (or a doorstop).
We didn't talk about the mouthpiece setup. We only talked about the clarinet as a whole.
(Side story: when I was a senior in high school 30 years ago, my younger brother was still in elementary school and he decided to take up clarinet. My parents bought him a Buffet E11. I had my R13 by then. He was certainly still learning, but I was curious how well an upgrade may help him. So one day I had him play on my Vandoren 2-tone swirl B45 mouthpiece, rovner ligature, but his reed. Very flat. Had him try one of my Vandoren V.12 #4 reeds - PERFECT PITCH! His instructor was impressed and wanted him in the honor band - and this was in his first year! He didn't stay with it, but it was still really cool to see.)
Anyway, the knowledge of the player knowing what to look for... is the missing ingredient in this analysis.
None to limited knowledge = start with something. Anything. One can always get something else later.
As one increases in knowledge, particularly in their tonal concept, they'll look for equipment that will help them create that concept far easier. We usually can tell when our equipment is holding us back.
Just my thoughts.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist Homage and MT36 mouthpieces
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 & #5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Klarnt
Date: 2026-05-22 23:31
At the risk of being pedantic, I'm want push back a little bit. I AGREE with you that normal can be defined as standardized. And I AGREE with you that when I walk into a music store, they ought to have basic equipment for my Bb Soprano. What you say is certainly true in an American context.
But I'd be careful in calling the most common Clarinet the most standardized. Sure it happens to be the case that Sopranos have the least adopted deviations, relative to the plethora of forms that the Contrabass takes, but I wouldn't go as far to say that Clarinets in different pitches are necessarily deviations from the standard.
Take for example, the Bass Clarinet is probably the second most common worldwide (I'm just taking a wild guess here). I would say it's a pretty standard Clarinet. Most music stores have reeds for them, and it would be odd to not have at least one in an American band program. You probably know people who play the Bass Clarinet. Yeah, it's an octave below the most common Clarinet, but it's still a "normal" Clarinet.
Just to draw an analogy, the most common hair color in the world is black. It makes up an overwhelming percentage of the world population. Yet, it is fairly normal for people to have brown hair. When we age, it is normal to have gray hair, yet that isn't the most common hair color. In some places, blonde or ginger hair are more prevalent. All of these hair colors are normal or standard for humans -just depends on context.
I hope I am not putting any words in your mouth nor attacking a straw man. Overall I think your comment was insightful.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-05-23 00:28
I agree with you that Bass Clarinet would be the 2nd most common and I'd expect some kind of support for it at a local music store - reeds at the minimum.
Let's take another step back.
If someone asks you, "What instrument do you play?" and we respond with "Clarinet", what would come to mind? Primarily, a traditional French-system Bb clarinet (if a non-musician ever gets that specific).
If we play anything other than the Bb clarinet, we specify it in our response because it is a deviation from the standard: Bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, or even saying "I play the regular Bb clarinet in a concert band and I often play an A clarinet in an orchestra when I need to."
If we feel the need to elaborate or get more specific, that's not the standard or most common understanding of what most people understand the clarinet to be.
Of course, 'common' can be different depending on the region we're talking about. I'm in California, so my reference point is American. If I was in Germany, I'd probably say that the German / Oehler system would be the most 'standardized' - for that area.
Same observations could be made for hair and skin color in various parts of the world. Blonde hair and blue eyes in the Norweigan parts of the world, while dark brown skin and tight curly black hair more common in Africa. (I avoid using white and black as we are all different shades of brown.)
Just my thoughts.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist Homage and MT36 mouthpieces
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 & #5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
Post Edited (2026-05-23 00:29)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Klarnt
Date: 2026-05-23 01:04
You make some good points.
Almost everybody pictures some sort of Bb Soprano in response to "I play the Clarinet". That is true. This is just me personally (and I'll admit that I've always been a weird person in general), but when I say I play Clarinet, I usually imagine the Soprano, Alto, and Bass. But communication isn't what the speaker gives, it's what the listener gets. So while I imagine the Clarinet family, most people picture just one member of said family.
Guess there are several ways to interpret things. That's the joy of open-ended questions, the human mind, and our discourse
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
